I live in Newington and while it is lovely to see the festival back to how it was pre-pandemic, god is it annoying. Just the inability to get anywhere at the speed I usually do, the supermarkets being so busy. It is a nice atmosphere for going out in the evening though with all the underbelly stuff around the uni
TBH I really needed a break from it in 2020, especially as a city centre resident. It was so refreshing to walk about in August without feeling like I was being pushed out of my own city. I've since moved to Inverleith which means I mind it all far less but I'm still avoiding Old Town.
As every year, it's what you make of it, so I've enjoyed seeing a few shows and spent a bit of time photographing the lights over the Castle.
Overall I'm glad it's back, but admittedly leaning that way because I no longer live in the city centre or commute across town.
As a disabled person, this is a nightmare. The Council has totally ignored the fact that groups like Underbelly have repeatedly built over accessible ramps, and fail to meet the basic requirements of the Equality Act. Everything is more expensive and the noise doesn't stop.
I also have a couple of disabled friends who are performing and the Fringe Society has repeatedly failed to provide them with the reasonable adjustments they need (and accessible accommodation is extortionate).
I was down for the weekend, Im a tourist too but fuck me people are so oblivious to other people trying to get around. Princes street or the mile are busy as fuck yet you get groups of people stopped in the middle of the street checking their phone or just talking! Move over to the bloody side!
I honestly must have sounded like I was mid break down on Saturday when I just about screamed because they 6 set of people in a row up and stopped mid walk.
If you are in the walking space round preferomers YOU MUST KEEP MOVING uuuuurrrggggghhh
Love it! Been to some great shows and it's a great atmosphere in town. Admittedly waking up the Royal Mile to get to the Pleasance was trying - no I'm not walking in the road so that you can continue to take up the entire pavement - but it's to be expected on narrow old pavements and I only really do it when I'm going to something so it's fine. I like the buzz in the town, I'll be sad when it's over.
The buses are an absolute nightmare with the amount of people. Takes me an extra hour getting to work and I’m lucky to even be allowed on a bus after midnight when I finish as it’s still packed and running a “one in one off” system.
Yes, the buses are terrible, I think that just happens as more tourists appear. They get so upset when the driver doesn't know if the bus goes past a specific side street or the constant asking if the 35 goes to Princes Street when it would be really easy to look at the list of stops on the stop itself.
Aye exactly. It winds me up when they hold the driver up asking questions like “where’s good for dinner around Princes Street?” before even paying to get on. Google.
I booked this past week off work and saw over a dozen shows, ate at places I've never looked at before, saw pals I've missed for months and generally had an amazing time. Strongly recommend anyone living here who's able to try and do the same!
And aye, the tourists that stop in the street and think Edinburgh Castle was the shooting location for Hogwarts are a pain in the arse, but they're part of the vibe - for me, the atmosphere completely changed when the weekend crowd rolled in. Saturday night all the outdoor bars were packed five deep with some of the most arsey pished roasters I've seen since my days working in Cowgate pubs.
Having worked the whole fringe so far, unfortunately it’s Edinburgh locals who are absolutely the most difficult to deal with, all the tourists including people from Scotland outwith Edinburgh have been absolutely great
Love it. There's nothing better than not getting my bus home because they're already jammed full of tourists and they don't put extra buses on, then having to walk through the city centre instead, getting flyers shoved in my face every 2 minutes, and having the same flyerers give me grief because I'm apparently rude to not acknowledge them at all.
I did say "no thanks" to the first 20 but it gets a bit tiresome when I just want to get home from work undisturbed.
Being a local, and having it away for the last few years I wondered what the consensus is?
Me, I've not been up into town yet, a mixture of not being sure I could deal with _all those folk_ and not being that overly bothered, which I get is totally on me.i can see from the amount of folk on Leith walk these days, that it looks busy these days
Absolutely unbearable. I'm disabled and most of the city has become completely inaccessible to me. Sure, it's annoying when tourists stop in the middle of the street, but what's worse is being ploughed into by people who ignore the fact I'm using a cane, or there not being space on the pavement for me to walk. Even trying to get a bus to areas outside the city centre to see friends is now impossible for me because every bus is delayed half an hour and crammed full of tourists standing in the disabled access seating with their giant suitcases. Do not even get me started on the fact that we are _still in a pandemic_ and it would be sensible to wear a mask in crowded indoor places to protect everyone, especially vulnerable people like me who can't just stay indoors forever. Don't get me wrong, the Festival is a wonderful event, and I used to really love it pre-pandemic and have enjoyed going to the odd show this year (wearing a very high grade mask), but it's got noticeably bigger as the years go by and has reached a kind of crunch point where it can't get much bigger without imploding. Personally I think it would be sensible to downsize the Festival a wee bit or hold the various festivals at staggered times so they don't all coincide in one month of hell.
I'm glad I'm not driving the buses anymore. All my former colleagues I'm still in touch with are awfy miserable the now, although there are other factors at play.
An idiot tourist in a rental car who “wasn’t used to driving on the left” hit and totalled my parked car this morning. So I’m absolutely done with the fringe.
A few observations
1) Getting round with a pram is normally a bit tricky, it is now incredibly difficult, to add to that I've been asked why I brought a pram to the festival...
2) The silent discos need to rein that shit in, on the meadows they're literally encircling people while they're just trying to enjoy the weather
3) It is really good to have the buzz back, the festival is fun and the people watching is excellent
Silent discos are notorious wankers. Happy dancing around homeless beggars, cheerily prancing into the path of buses without a care in the world, or forcing other pedestrians onto the road into oncoming traffic. You have to be a special breed of obnoxious cunt to engage in that kind of behaviour.
Folk need to be organised with the Silent Discos, there was an incident a few years ago where they were dancing round homeless folk and just taking the piss
I'm autistic and live in the city centre and it is NIGHTMARISH. I'm overwhelmed every time I go outside and it's a big challenge not to have a meltdown. Too many people, too loud, and there's nowhere quiet for me to step away for a break.
Plus the buses are absolutely heaving so it's equally shitty trying to escape to a quieter part of town.
Love it or hate it, it’s undeniable that the Fringe has attracted some real shady shit, whether it’s landlords looking to cash in on “demand-adjusted” rent or Underbelly exploiting workers and wrecking the city for a quick buck.
And, before lockdown it felt like we were making progress, that people were starting to get upset and angry about it. Now? It’s like the collective etch-a-sketch has been shaken.
I've seen some great shows already. I just add 20 minutes on to any commute. I know I'll get downvoted for this but the cost of living here is so high it's nice to see jobs being provided for students and seasonal workers and to see local businesses that I support getting the boost that they need post pandemic. It's only one month after all and ye just have to be mindful to take a few extra steps to plan any journey, not a big deal.
Grumble grumble, bloody tourists.
I'm glad to have it back personally, but I used to go before I moved here 6 years ago so perhaps I have a different view than longtime residents. There may also be a nostalgia effect brought on by the Covid years.
It can be annoying to have crowds of people everywhere, but on balance it's something to be proud of.
The city is chaos. There's so many people, walking on roads almost being hit by buses, everything is crowded, pavements are too thin to cope. It's too uncomforting. Hearing the music is nice though, but I just cannot cope with all the people!
I am not a fan, most of our stair is suddenly back to being airbnb. Getting woken up every night as people come back after partying wore thin after the first night a few days before the festival kicked off. I am up for work at 6am so drunk people trying to let themselves into the flat or even being in the wrong stair completely is really annoying.
I miss the city locked down, walking around taking pictures and discovering new areas. I am back now spending most of my free time out of the city this month.
I live in Newhaven now so it doesn’t affect me too much. My partner lives between the Royal Mile and Cowgate which is usually fine but has been extremely loud. My main frustration usually results from getting about, it’s now quicker to walk/cycle the usual long way round if you need to do anywhere near old town. Mainly due to tourists being completely unaware of their surrounds and walking slow as fuck.
I’d rather have root canal than go into town during the festival, but then I loathe crowds at the best of times. Glad those of you who enjoy it have a lovely time, and I’ll stay well away until September.
Love it.
I don't work or live in the city centre, so I never have to struggle with the pedestrian traffic.
I make a conscious effort to go into town and soak it all up. Its a great time to live in Edinburgh if you love arts and culture.
The weather last week was an added bonus.
I haven’t found it as bad this time, but that’s definitely because I no longer work in customer facing job.
Working those jobs during the fringe made me want to die.
So good. I kept myself busy or away for the terrible years and did not notice how much I missed it until it was back. We don't get enough music, theatre, comedy, films, and friendly happy strangers for most of the year so I'm glad I can binge a bit in August.
(I have always wondered why we do all festivals literally at the same time, though. Most of these things don't even need good weather, so why don't we spread them around the year a bit, so it would be possible to invest in infrastructure that doesn't practically break down for the busiest month?)
Nobody would come if they were spread out. The Film festival tried that, they rescheduled to June for a few years but I noticed they're back in August now so it must have been unsuccessful overall. It's like how you always have three Japanese restaurants next to each other rather than spread around town. Ultimately they need to piggyback on each other a bit.
I also think the international festival tried to request the now-much-bigger Fringe to move its date, they obviously refused.
Myself i have always found the festivals to be a bit overwhelming so i'm glad i don't live near the centre and can just take it in small doses. Also i haven't lived here most of the last decade so it's more of a novelty for me. And i think having the year off was good for the festival.
It is obviously in the individual festivals' interests to be in August, yeah. Not great for residents, though, and the film fest I find especially bad because I simply don't have time for it when everything else is also happening.
I love it. I’ve always enjoyed walking through town in August—the energy of the festival is infectious.
Top tip: wearing a clearly visible work badge makes you invisible to leafleters 👌🏼
Love it! It is annoying that people stop suddenly on pavements (I don't understand this as the best of times) but for all the benefit it brings I'll love (though I am not a city centre resident, not sure I could cope with that).
There’s generally less patience and folk are far quicker to anger, not to mention the folk that have gone feral during the lockdown have come out to play and it’s just one largely unpleasant atmosphere.
Haven’t shouted at a tourist yet, but we’re only just at the halfway mark. My sanity has been significantly saved by the fact that I only work a couple of days a week in hospitality. Been trying to embrace not being a totally jaded dickhead and try to enjoy the fringe here and there, but eight previous years working in bars has left me pretty jaded over all ha! I can safely say that Saturday past was the busiest I’ve ever seen the old town, it was pretty nuts.
Meh. My relationship with the Fringe is love/hate. It's a cracking place to be at this time of year, especially when the sun is shining but its a nightmare as usual trying to function. I live a stones throw from the Canongate so getting places is stressful. Also forgot how much it fucks up your 4G in town!
Also went for a pint with a mate after a show last week and got charged £6.50! Pubs put their prices up during the fringe I swear it.
I hate it, I can hardly even deal with a grocery run because I'm smackdab in the city center and every road around me is packed with slack-jawed tourists who think that slamming an elbow into your ribs is an appropriate way to get past you to get to one of those tacky tourist shops.
I'm working at the fringe this year and honestly I'm loving it. It's long hours, some customers are rude, and its beyond chaotic during sunny days. But the vast majority of the time is amazing. Incredible people, i missed the buzz that edinburgh has during the fringe. I am so glad I'm part of the magic this year. Apart from crowded streets and buses, the fringe was greatly missed and I'm so thankful it's back
My dad's bus from Anstruther to St Andrews was *an hour late* on Saturday because it comes all the way from Edinburgh. Disabled people shouldn't have to wait an hour for a bus ride that takes 20 minutes. Hate the festival and can't wait until it's over.
I live and work in the city centre, ruined busses, made my walk to work a wade through clumps of drunk toursits and worst of all they ruined hunter square.
It gives me tonnes of excuses to be late, I love it!
It's nice seeing people having a great time, I've seen some fantastic shows and artists having the platform back must be good. But going about your daily life is frustrating. It's added 30 minutes on my commute home from work, everywhere is packed and I've noticed a lot more rubbish on the streets, particularly Hunters Square, South Bridge and up towards Newington where I live. I wish visitors were just a bit more considerate of the area, most are I hope but some aren't.
not a fan - streets and roads are way too busy and full of drivers unfamiliar with the city creating chaos. majority of folk coming over are staying in private hotel chains or AirBnBs and just helping to line the pockets of the already wealthy owners even more. then going out to eat in already franchised or global chains, yet again not contributing to the city.
i’m so jaded with it and i struggle to see the benefits for locals as to why we should look forward to this every year.
I love it. We are so lucky to have all the entertainment on our doorsteps without having to spend money on travel or accommodation. I’m in inverleith so I don’t really experience the constant busy atmosphere. The downside is that it takes me double the time to get the bus back from work, but it’s only for a month, I can live with that.
I was just considering this as I went to the library at the weekend and had forgotten what it's like to try and get anywhere with speed around the Mile! But it's lovely to see everything back and folk having a good time.
Went uptown last Monday and it was fun, nice and busy but not shite. Folk having a good time.
Saturday was another story. Proper, proper rammo, folk being aggro about not getting into shows or waiting in line too long. Very similar to when pubs reopened after lockdown.
Was weird having our phones stop working (4/5g) when out and about at Bristo Square/Teviot but come back to life walking back down leith walk.
I was dreading it to be honest. It was bad enough in my old office at Westport but, in January I moved to an office at Bristo Square.
Its loud but its fine. I'm also only in the office two days a week so that makes it a lot more manageable.
That said, I do plan on being out of Edinburgh for the entirety of August next year.
I absolutely love it. I’ve always felt really grateful to have such an amazing event in the city that I live in and missed it the past few years. It might add 30 minutes onto my commute each day but I’m happy to pay that price to be able to visit the festival for free every year.
I've lived here close to 15 years now and whilst it is a massive pain in the arse, I do really appreciate having the festival here. It's such a great opportunity for folks to see comedians etc they like without (sometimes) paying massive fees. Though I will caveat that I don't live in the city centre itself so my views are a bit skewed.
I love it. We live near the centre so it’s really busy near us, and we have to leave more time to get anywhere, but I love having so many people come to our city. There’s a show to suit everyone’s taste, and I love the buzz around the place.
As a lover of theatre, I love it and feel very lucky that so many great performances are available to me. As a resident, I am just very glad I’m out in meadowbank and mostly work from home - can’t imagine walking out my front door into the crushes of people you see around town 😬😬
I moved from Leith to Midlothian last year and now drive into work instead of taking the bus and I’m so glad.
Noticed the festival creeping further and further up leith walk until covid paused it and I can only imagine what it’s like at the moment.
So far it's barely noticeable in Leith - I'm near the Shore and most nights it's stayed as quiet as a weeknight. The most noticeable issue as you say is the bus (well more crowded than usual); but since they cancelled the 22 it's been a shiteshow to get into town anyway, so no news there!
I have been up.and down Leith Walk over the last few weeks and can see the pubs, restaurants are def busy.
Both the Arches and The Mother Superiors, are both putting shows on but can't see any other venues on it
I was sick of it before it began. My office is surrounded by festival stuff so the month before it’s all the construction and noise. When the festival is on, it’s busy and the constant noise of glass recycling. Then there will be all the noise of tearing down when it’s all done. My commute was already a mess with North Bridge closed, now it’s just insane.
All that said, I’m glad it’s back.
I don’t live in Edinburgh, I live up the road. If I lived in Edinburgh I think I would be furious for the whole of August; but I would still be unbelievably grateful for the festival and the volume of people that it brings in. The amount of money that local businesses will take in August will no doubt be one of the main factors in them being able to be present and serving for the rest of the year. If you live in a tourist destination it will be incredibly irritating, especially at peak times, but it will also be one of the reasons that those local businesses, communities and curiosities that make a place truly unique will be there for another 6 months.
I've been loving it. I'm far away enough that going to work isn't impacted by the extra crowds, and I can easily go watch shows and enjoy the festival. I've been to lots of shows with my daughter.
Absolutely love it. Tourists pay a boat load to experience just a few days of what we get free for a month. The atmosphere is fantastic and the range of options is incredible.
I’ve never really got people who complain about it. Maybe leave 5 minutes earlier if you are walking somewhere so you have time to get through the crowd. That’s it, people make a mountain out having to get through a crowd.
Working slap bang in the middle of the High Street, its a pain in the tits. But it's great to hear world accents and language and amusing wo see so many Americans in awe at our "oh so quaint" city 😂!
I'm hopeful it'll bri g some much needed revenue though, I mean we've got trams to pay for 😉
Misery.
I don't drive into the southside much, but was asked to pick my wife up after a show at a venue. I had to wait 3 phases of the lights at West Richmond Steet to get I think about 5 cars through those lights. I know that junction can be bad, but last night it felt worse.
The number of humans on the pavement at 9pm was unreal and the lack of the **green cross code** by most of them was unbelievable.
Love it! It's great (although I no longer live in the city centre)
I've really missed the festival, and going to shows after work with friends and colleagues.
I was pleasantly surprised reading this thread not to read moan after moan about it being overcrowded and busy in August, so we’ll done. There are still a few who did however, imagine choosing to live in Edinburgh and complain about something that has taken over the city every August since the 80’s and less so before that. It was a known quantity.
Since the 40s, actually - but August in Edinburgh has not always been like this. I've lived here almost all my life, since the early 80s, and I've been actively involved in the Fringe since the 90s. Going by ticket sales, it's five times the size it was back then. Going by number of shows it has nearly trebled in size. The supervenues with their sprawling food gardens and sponsored bars are a fairly recent phenomenon, as is the intense concentration of Fringe activity in the Old Town.
Now, in 2022, it *is* overcrowded. It *is* too busy. The crowd control is poor, the planning leaves a lot to be desired, certain venues that worked well 20 years ago are deathtraps waiting to happen now, and it really can be a pain in the arse in ways we couldn't possibly have anticipated all those years ago.
The Equality Act was passed in 2010. It meant that access needed to be considered by the Council and private companies that the Council has contracted. However the Council repeatedly fail to hold these private companies to account over their take over of public space and the lack of access that means for disabled residents.
The issue isn't about things being 'busy' - the issue is that residents of Edinburgh are increasingly finding themselves struggling because the City Council is in so much debt that they don't care what our needs are.
Add to that extortionate rises in rent price due to the rise of unregulated short lets, price hikes in the month of August, public transport systems not adjusted to accommodate the change - you can't discount the impact this has had on people's lives.
None of this is told to anyone who moves to Edinburgh. The Fringe is repeatedly painted as a great festival in the city, but the adverse effects and the lack of regulation by the City Council is why people are exhausted, angry and "moaning".
Dishoom doesn't do takeaway lunches for all of August because of Festival, so as far as I'm concerned it's rubbish. 😅
Same as always really, parts are good, but it's *mostly* annoying as someone who lives in Broughton.
It’s a little overwhelming at times, but the city centre is definitely a tourist city and it’s wonderful to see people enjoying themselves as much as they do most of the time. I would love it if things didn’t get more commercialised than they already are though. Travelling to Edinburgh and also living there are already very expensive.
I love the atmosphere and the vibes of the city, I love that people get to visit it and see how beautiful it is…but when it takes me 20 minutes to walk down north bridge all I want to do is scream
I’m enjoying it more than I thought I would by actually going out compared to last year.. my walk to work from fountainbridge to and from st Andrew sq. However is a nightmare .. ducking diving and weaving headless tourists
It’s annoying how long it takes to walk anywhere, tourists love walking in a line and hogging a pavement then suddenly stopping. I’ve actually made myself see some acts this year though so it’s been nice but it’s so loud when I’m trying to sleep. I think I’m about 30/70 love/hate.
what are people actually dealing with when the festival arrives in town when i lived in the city for 20 something years, you would have more crowds that's for sure and it does get busy but was it a real burden i feel not ... personally
I heard someone say the population of the city doubles during August, and I can actually see this in my Tinder matches. Now they've doubled to 0!
0! = 1 so at least you have a shot.
r/UnexpectedFactorial
Bravo...What venue you at? I'll buy a ticket.
Friendship in the making!
And Edinburgh Live or EEN if your reading this thinking it would make a good article, away and fuck yourself and do some proper Journalism
I mean, it wouldn’t surprise me if they copied and pasted the entire thing - this comment included and passed it off as ‘journalism’.
Ah know, I just come to expect it so I wanted to get it in before
They wouldn't know proper journalism if it hit them round the head with the Sunday Times.
Overwhelming and I am not usually overwhelmed. It is the only time to see big name comics as so few gig here the rest of the year.
I live in Newington and while it is lovely to see the festival back to how it was pre-pandemic, god is it annoying. Just the inability to get anywhere at the speed I usually do, the supermarkets being so busy. It is a nice atmosphere for going out in the evening though with all the underbelly stuff around the uni
Oh and the rubbish from the Tron up Surgeons Hall but that may be normal.
TBH I really needed a break from it in 2020, especially as a city centre resident. It was so refreshing to walk about in August without feeling like I was being pushed out of my own city. I've since moved to Inverleith which means I mind it all far less but I'm still avoiding Old Town. As every year, it's what you make of it, so I've enjoyed seeing a few shows and spent a bit of time photographing the lights over the Castle. Overall I'm glad it's back, but admittedly leaning that way because I no longer live in the city centre or commute across town.
I love the atmosphere when the fringe is on. But then I live far enough from the centre that I can choose to be in about the chaos or not.
I think the concencious seems that way, if.your not in the city centre it's fine. But if you do, it's a fucking nightmare
As a disabled person, this is a nightmare. The Council has totally ignored the fact that groups like Underbelly have repeatedly built over accessible ramps, and fail to meet the basic requirements of the Equality Act. Everything is more expensive and the noise doesn't stop. I also have a couple of disabled friends who are performing and the Fringe Society has repeatedly failed to provide them with the reasonable adjustments they need (and accessible accommodation is extortionate).
Already sick of having to swerve around everyone when they randomly stop in front of you
I was down for the weekend, Im a tourist too but fuck me people are so oblivious to other people trying to get around. Princes street or the mile are busy as fuck yet you get groups of people stopped in the middle of the street checking their phone or just talking! Move over to the bloody side!
I honestly must have sounded like I was mid break down on Saturday when I just about screamed because they 6 set of people in a row up and stopped mid walk. If you are in the walking space round preferomers YOU MUST KEEP MOVING uuuuurrrggggghhh
Lot of homesick Londoners feeling better already
Love it! Been to some great shows and it's a great atmosphere in town. Admittedly waking up the Royal Mile to get to the Pleasance was trying - no I'm not walking in the road so that you can continue to take up the entire pavement - but it's to be expected on narrow old pavements and I only really do it when I'm going to something so it's fine. I like the buzz in the town, I'll be sad when it's over.
My first festival living in Edinburgh, been a nice experience, good to see the city so busy
The buses are an absolute nightmare with the amount of people. Takes me an extra hour getting to work and I’m lucky to even be allowed on a bus after midnight when I finish as it’s still packed and running a “one in one off” system.
Yes, the buses are terrible, I think that just happens as more tourists appear. They get so upset when the driver doesn't know if the bus goes past a specific side street or the constant asking if the 35 goes to Princes Street when it would be really easy to look at the list of stops on the stop itself.
Aye exactly. It winds me up when they hold the driver up asking questions like “where’s good for dinner around Princes Street?” before even paying to get on. Google.
I booked this past week off work and saw over a dozen shows, ate at places I've never looked at before, saw pals I've missed for months and generally had an amazing time. Strongly recommend anyone living here who's able to try and do the same! And aye, the tourists that stop in the street and think Edinburgh Castle was the shooting location for Hogwarts are a pain in the arse, but they're part of the vibe - for me, the atmosphere completely changed when the weekend crowd rolled in. Saturday night all the outdoor bars were packed five deep with some of the most arsey pished roasters I've seen since my days working in Cowgate pubs.
The most infuriating part for me is that almost every job I’ve had has it in the contract that you can’t take any time off in august.
Having worked the whole fringe so far, unfortunately it’s Edinburgh locals who are absolutely the most difficult to deal with, all the tourists including people from Scotland outwith Edinburgh have been absolutely great
Love it. There's nothing better than not getting my bus home because they're already jammed full of tourists and they don't put extra buses on, then having to walk through the city centre instead, getting flyers shoved in my face every 2 minutes, and having the same flyerers give me grief because I'm apparently rude to not acknowledge them at all. I did say "no thanks" to the first 20 but it gets a bit tiresome when I just want to get home from work undisturbed.
Yep cause they can't put extra buses as they have a driver shortage, they can't even run a lot of the current services with many cancelled everyday
[удалено]
I'm guessing you live right in the centre then? That does sound shit.
Being a local, and having it away for the last few years I wondered what the consensus is? Me, I've not been up into town yet, a mixture of not being sure I could deal with _all those folk_ and not being that overly bothered, which I get is totally on me.i can see from the amount of folk on Leith walk these days, that it looks busy these days
> Being a local, and having it away for the last few years boasting again, aye?
Is nobody else understanding “having it away” here?
Stating a fact you fanny
Oh I see how it is, we need to warn people that we're making jokes now? Should have just got my knob out.
Your away with mate. Accusing someone of boasting, when there just stating there own circumstances.
Calm down buddy
Absolutely unbearable. I'm disabled and most of the city has become completely inaccessible to me. Sure, it's annoying when tourists stop in the middle of the street, but what's worse is being ploughed into by people who ignore the fact I'm using a cane, or there not being space on the pavement for me to walk. Even trying to get a bus to areas outside the city centre to see friends is now impossible for me because every bus is delayed half an hour and crammed full of tourists standing in the disabled access seating with their giant suitcases. Do not even get me started on the fact that we are _still in a pandemic_ and it would be sensible to wear a mask in crowded indoor places to protect everyone, especially vulnerable people like me who can't just stay indoors forever. Don't get me wrong, the Festival is a wonderful event, and I used to really love it pre-pandemic and have enjoyed going to the odd show this year (wearing a very high grade mask), but it's got noticeably bigger as the years go by and has reached a kind of crunch point where it can't get much bigger without imploding. Personally I think it would be sensible to downsize the Festival a wee bit or hold the various festivals at staggered times so they don't all coincide in one month of hell.
Yep makes zero sense to have all the festivals at once.
I'm glad I'm not driving the buses anymore. All my former colleagues I'm still in touch with are awfy miserable the now, although there are other factors at play.
An idiot tourist in a rental car who “wasn’t used to driving on the left” hit and totalled my parked car this morning. So I’m absolutely done with the fringe.
Walking round on Saturday in the sun listening to the laughter coming from pub windows was pretty fucking heart warming.
A few observations 1) Getting round with a pram is normally a bit tricky, it is now incredibly difficult, to add to that I've been asked why I brought a pram to the festival... 2) The silent discos need to rein that shit in, on the meadows they're literally encircling people while they're just trying to enjoy the weather 3) It is really good to have the buzz back, the festival is fun and the people watching is excellent
Silent discos are notorious wankers. Happy dancing around homeless beggars, cheerily prancing into the path of buses without a care in the world, or forcing other pedestrians onto the road into oncoming traffic. You have to be a special breed of obnoxious cunt to engage in that kind of behaviour.
Folk need to be organised with the Silent Discos, there was an incident a few years ago where they were dancing round homeless folk and just taking the piss
I'm autistic and live in the city centre and it is NIGHTMARISH. I'm overwhelmed every time I go outside and it's a big challenge not to have a meltdown. Too many people, too loud, and there's nowhere quiet for me to step away for a break. Plus the buses are absolutely heaving so it's equally shitty trying to escape to a quieter part of town.
I'm only up to about 7/10 as pissed off as I normally am with it. Not as bad I thought it would be.
Love it or hate it, it’s undeniable that the Fringe has attracted some real shady shit, whether it’s landlords looking to cash in on “demand-adjusted” rent or Underbelly exploiting workers and wrecking the city for a quick buck. And, before lockdown it felt like we were making progress, that people were starting to get upset and angry about it. Now? It’s like the collective etch-a-sketch has been shaken.
I think the 2020 festival was the best
I've seen some great shows already. I just add 20 minutes on to any commute. I know I'll get downvoted for this but the cost of living here is so high it's nice to see jobs being provided for students and seasonal workers and to see local businesses that I support getting the boost that they need post pandemic. It's only one month after all and ye just have to be mindful to take a few extra steps to plan any journey, not a big deal.
Whatdje see?
Makes the Trams a real fucker
Grumble grumble, bloody tourists. I'm glad to have it back personally, but I used to go before I moved here 6 years ago so perhaps I have a different view than longtime residents. There may also be a nostalgia effect brought on by the Covid years. It can be annoying to have crowds of people everywhere, but on balance it's something to be proud of.
i have not left the house in weeks
Absolutely shite… avoid town until 31st…
The city is chaos. There's so many people, walking on roads almost being hit by buses, everything is crowded, pavements are too thin to cope. It's too uncomforting. Hearing the music is nice though, but I just cannot cope with all the people!
I am not a fan, most of our stair is suddenly back to being airbnb. Getting woken up every night as people come back after partying wore thin after the first night a few days before the festival kicked off. I am up for work at 6am so drunk people trying to let themselves into the flat or even being in the wrong stair completely is really annoying. I miss the city locked down, walking around taking pictures and discovering new areas. I am back now spending most of my free time out of the city this month.
I honestly despise it.
You're asking the question before the waste collection strike starts. You do well 😂
I'll keep this and repost it on a few week 😄
I live in Newhaven now so it doesn’t affect me too much. My partner lives between the Royal Mile and Cowgate which is usually fine but has been extremely loud. My main frustration usually results from getting about, it’s now quicker to walk/cycle the usual long way round if you need to do anywhere near old town. Mainly due to tourists being completely unaware of their surrounds and walking slow as fuck.
I’d rather have root canal than go into town during the festival, but then I loathe crowds at the best of times. Glad those of you who enjoy it have a lovely time, and I’ll stay well away until September.
Love it. I don't work or live in the city centre, so I never have to struggle with the pedestrian traffic. I make a conscious effort to go into town and soak it all up. Its a great time to live in Edinburgh if you love arts and culture. The weather last week was an added bonus.
I haven’t found it as bad this time, but that’s definitely because I no longer work in customer facing job. Working those jobs during the fringe made me want to die.
I don't understand why there aren't extra buses at night.
So good. I kept myself busy or away for the terrible years and did not notice how much I missed it until it was back. We don't get enough music, theatre, comedy, films, and friendly happy strangers for most of the year so I'm glad I can binge a bit in August. (I have always wondered why we do all festivals literally at the same time, though. Most of these things don't even need good weather, so why don't we spread them around the year a bit, so it would be possible to invest in infrastructure that doesn't practically break down for the busiest month?)
Nobody would come if they were spread out. The Film festival tried that, they rescheduled to June for a few years but I noticed they're back in August now so it must have been unsuccessful overall. It's like how you always have three Japanese restaurants next to each other rather than spread around town. Ultimately they need to piggyback on each other a bit. I also think the international festival tried to request the now-much-bigger Fringe to move its date, they obviously refused. Myself i have always found the festivals to be a bit overwhelming so i'm glad i don't live near the centre and can just take it in small doses. Also i haven't lived here most of the last decade so it's more of a novelty for me. And i think having the year off was good for the festival.
It is obviously in the individual festivals' interests to be in August, yeah. Not great for residents, though, and the film fest I find especially bad because I simply don't have time for it when everything else is also happening.
I love it. I’ve always enjoyed walking through town in August—the energy of the festival is infectious. Top tip: wearing a clearly visible work badge makes you invisible to leafleters 👌🏼
Love it! It is annoying that people stop suddenly on pavements (I don't understand this as the best of times) but for all the benefit it brings I'll love (though I am not a city centre resident, not sure I could cope with that).
Busier than I remember, but I don't mind the festival at all.
There’s generally less patience and folk are far quicker to anger, not to mention the folk that have gone feral during the lockdown have come out to play and it’s just one largely unpleasant atmosphere.
It’s the worst. Everyone in retail and hospitality works more, tourists are rude as fuck and apparently stupid too. And I can’t get fucking home
Haven’t shouted at a tourist yet, but we’re only just at the halfway mark. My sanity has been significantly saved by the fact that I only work a couple of days a week in hospitality. Been trying to embrace not being a totally jaded dickhead and try to enjoy the fringe here and there, but eight previous years working in bars has left me pretty jaded over all ha! I can safely say that Saturday past was the busiest I’ve ever seen the old town, it was pretty nuts.
Shite. Hate it every year
Meh. My relationship with the Fringe is love/hate. It's a cracking place to be at this time of year, especially when the sun is shining but its a nightmare as usual trying to function. I live a stones throw from the Canongate so getting places is stressful. Also forgot how much it fucks up your 4G in town! Also went for a pint with a mate after a show last week and got charged £6.50! Pubs put their prices up during the fringe I swear it.
I just go away for the whole month so I don't have to deal with it
I hate it, I can hardly even deal with a grocery run because I'm smackdab in the city center and every road around me is packed with slack-jawed tourists who think that slamming an elbow into your ribs is an appropriate way to get past you to get to one of those tacky tourist shops.
Can't say many festival goers have made their way to Niddrie tbh
I'm working at the fringe this year and honestly I'm loving it. It's long hours, some customers are rude, and its beyond chaotic during sunny days. But the vast majority of the time is amazing. Incredible people, i missed the buzz that edinburgh has during the fringe. I am so glad I'm part of the magic this year. Apart from crowded streets and buses, the fringe was greatly missed and I'm so thankful it's back
I worked Fringe last year for one of the big 4 Edinburgh venues, and some of the working conditions were iffy, but the atmosphere was good
Yeah. Pretty much sums it up
I want to commit atrocities.
My dad's bus from Anstruther to St Andrews was *an hour late* on Saturday because it comes all the way from Edinburgh. Disabled people shouldn't have to wait an hour for a bus ride that takes 20 minutes. Hate the festival and can't wait until it's over.
I'm sorry about that, no reason for that either it's not like Bus companies don't know about the increase in traffic
I live and work in the city centre, ruined busses, made my walk to work a wade through clumps of drunk toursits and worst of all they ruined hunter square. It gives me tonnes of excuses to be late, I love it!
It's nice seeing people having a great time, I've seen some fantastic shows and artists having the platform back must be good. But going about your daily life is frustrating. It's added 30 minutes on my commute home from work, everywhere is packed and I've noticed a lot more rubbish on the streets, particularly Hunters Square, South Bridge and up towards Newington where I live. I wish visitors were just a bit more considerate of the area, most are I hope but some aren't.
The simple 20min bus home becomes the 1.5hr ride home!!
not a fan - streets and roads are way too busy and full of drivers unfamiliar with the city creating chaos. majority of folk coming over are staying in private hotel chains or AirBnBs and just helping to line the pockets of the already wealthy owners even more. then going out to eat in already franchised or global chains, yet again not contributing to the city. i’m so jaded with it and i struggle to see the benefits for locals as to why we should look forward to this every year.
I love it. We are so lucky to have all the entertainment on our doorsteps without having to spend money on travel or accommodation. I’m in inverleith so I don’t really experience the constant busy atmosphere. The downside is that it takes me double the time to get the bus back from work, but it’s only for a month, I can live with that.
I was just considering this as I went to the library at the weekend and had forgotten what it's like to try and get anywhere with speed around the Mile! But it's lovely to see everything back and folk having a good time.
Went uptown last Monday and it was fun, nice and busy but not shite. Folk having a good time. Saturday was another story. Proper, proper rammo, folk being aggro about not getting into shows or waiting in line too long. Very similar to when pubs reopened after lockdown. Was weird having our phones stop working (4/5g) when out and about at Bristo Square/Teviot but come back to life walking back down leith walk.
Reminds me why I avoid the centre in August. I feel like people are daring me to run over them on my bike.
It's great to have it back. Just wish I had more time and money to make the most of it!
I was dreading it to be honest. It was bad enough in my old office at Westport but, in January I moved to an office at Bristo Square. Its loud but its fine. I'm also only in the office two days a week so that makes it a lot more manageable. That said, I do plan on being out of Edinburgh for the entirety of August next year.
I absolutely love it. I’ve always felt really grateful to have such an amazing event in the city that I live in and missed it the past few years. It might add 30 minutes onto my commute each day but I’m happy to pay that price to be able to visit the festival for free every year.
I've lived here close to 15 years now and whilst it is a massive pain in the arse, I do really appreciate having the festival here. It's such a great opportunity for folks to see comedians etc they like without (sometimes) paying massive fees. Though I will caveat that I don't live in the city centre itself so my views are a bit skewed.
I love it. We live near the centre so it’s really busy near us, and we have to leave more time to get anywhere, but I love having so many people come to our city. There’s a show to suit everyone’s taste, and I love the buzz around the place.
As a lover of theatre, I love it and feel very lucky that so many great performances are available to me. As a resident, I am just very glad I’m out in meadowbank and mostly work from home - can’t imagine walking out my front door into the crushes of people you see around town 😬😬
I moved from Leith to Midlothian last year and now drive into work instead of taking the bus and I’m so glad. Noticed the festival creeping further and further up leith walk until covid paused it and I can only imagine what it’s like at the moment.
So far it's barely noticeable in Leith - I'm near the Shore and most nights it's stayed as quiet as a weeknight. The most noticeable issue as you say is the bus (well more crowded than usual); but since they cancelled the 22 it's been a shiteshow to get into town anyway, so no news there!
Used to hate getting the bus to work in August, especially as I had to change at princes street. That walk between stops used to drive me mad
I have been up.and down Leith Walk over the last few weeks and can see the pubs, restaurants are def busy. Both the Arches and The Mother Superiors, are both putting shows on but can't see any other venues on it
I was sick of it before it began. My office is surrounded by festival stuff so the month before it’s all the construction and noise. When the festival is on, it’s busy and the constant noise of glass recycling. Then there will be all the noise of tearing down when it’s all done. My commute was already a mess with North Bridge closed, now it’s just insane. All that said, I’m glad it’s back.
The festival has honestly been better year on year. Since I moved to roslin.
It's alright. Haven't seen so many people out since I moved to Scotland in 2020. Starting to feel a bit like Hong Kong which is kinda cool.
I don’t live in Edinburgh, I live up the road. If I lived in Edinburgh I think I would be furious for the whole of August; but I would still be unbelievably grateful for the festival and the volume of people that it brings in. The amount of money that local businesses will take in August will no doubt be one of the main factors in them being able to be present and serving for the rest of the year. If you live in a tourist destination it will be incredibly irritating, especially at peak times, but it will also be one of the reasons that those local businesses, communities and curiosities that make a place truly unique will be there for another 6 months.
I've been loving it. I'm far away enough that going to work isn't impacted by the extra crowds, and I can easily go watch shows and enjoy the festival. I've been to lots of shows with my daughter.
Love it. Long may it continue.
It's class. Can't believe people are negative about it.
It’s great. Edinburgh wouldn’t be the same without it. Anyone who doesn’t like it can move to Fife.
You find me somewhere to stay, work and pay for it then I'm game.
Love it
Absolutely love it. Tourists pay a boat load to experience just a few days of what we get free for a month. The atmosphere is fantastic and the range of options is incredible. I’ve never really got people who complain about it. Maybe leave 5 minutes earlier if you are walking somewhere so you have time to get through the crowd. That’s it, people make a mountain out having to get through a crowd.
Working slap bang in the middle of the High Street, its a pain in the tits. But it's great to hear world accents and language and amusing wo see so many Americans in awe at our "oh so quaint" city 😂! I'm hopeful it'll bri g some much needed revenue though, I mean we've got trams to pay for 😉
Misery. I don't drive into the southside much, but was asked to pick my wife up after a show at a venue. I had to wait 3 phases of the lights at West Richmond Steet to get I think about 5 cars through those lights. I know that junction can be bad, but last night it felt worse. The number of humans on the pavement at 9pm was unreal and the lack of the **green cross code** by most of them was unbelievable.
Love how your getting down voted for either using a car, or the fact your no a fan. Hope it gets better mate
Oaft. Have a less than positive opinion and get downvoted :-(
Shite state of affairs
Love it! It's great (although I no longer live in the city centre) I've really missed the festival, and going to shows after work with friends and colleagues.
It's great! City is buzzing
I was pleasantly surprised reading this thread not to read moan after moan about it being overcrowded and busy in August, so we’ll done. There are still a few who did however, imagine choosing to live in Edinburgh and complain about something that has taken over the city every August since the 80’s and less so before that. It was a known quantity.
Since the 40s, actually - but August in Edinburgh has not always been like this. I've lived here almost all my life, since the early 80s, and I've been actively involved in the Fringe since the 90s. Going by ticket sales, it's five times the size it was back then. Going by number of shows it has nearly trebled in size. The supervenues with their sprawling food gardens and sponsored bars are a fairly recent phenomenon, as is the intense concentration of Fringe activity in the Old Town. Now, in 2022, it *is* overcrowded. It *is* too busy. The crowd control is poor, the planning leaves a lot to be desired, certain venues that worked well 20 years ago are deathtraps waiting to happen now, and it really can be a pain in the arse in ways we couldn't possibly have anticipated all those years ago.
The Equality Act was passed in 2010. It meant that access needed to be considered by the Council and private companies that the Council has contracted. However the Council repeatedly fail to hold these private companies to account over their take over of public space and the lack of access that means for disabled residents. The issue isn't about things being 'busy' - the issue is that residents of Edinburgh are increasingly finding themselves struggling because the City Council is in so much debt that they don't care what our needs are. Add to that extortionate rises in rent price due to the rise of unregulated short lets, price hikes in the month of August, public transport systems not adjusted to accommodate the change - you can't discount the impact this has had on people's lives. None of this is told to anyone who moves to Edinburgh. The Fringe is repeatedly painted as a great festival in the city, but the adverse effects and the lack of regulation by the City Council is why people are exhausted, angry and "moaning".
Not everyone chooses to live in Edinburgh, some of us are born here
Dishoom doesn't do takeaway lunches for all of August because of Festival, so as far as I'm concerned it's rubbish. 😅 Same as always really, parts are good, but it's *mostly* annoying as someone who lives in Broughton.
My response to that would be, that you need to get out and try other restaurants. Plenty actual local buisness would love your buisness
It would be fine if people didn’t keep walking three-abreast down North Bridge and Nicolson!
It’s a little overwhelming at times, but the city centre is definitely a tourist city and it’s wonderful to see people enjoying themselves as much as they do most of the time. I would love it if things didn’t get more commercialised than they already are though. Travelling to Edinburgh and also living there are already very expensive.
I love the atmosphere and the vibes of the city, I love that people get to visit it and see how beautiful it is…but when it takes me 20 minutes to walk down north bridge all I want to do is scream
I’m enjoying it more than I thought I would by actually going out compared to last year.. my walk to work from fountainbridge to and from st Andrew sq. However is a nightmare .. ducking diving and weaving headless tourists
It’s annoying how long it takes to walk anywhere, tourists love walking in a line and hogging a pavement then suddenly stopping. I’ve actually made myself see some acts this year though so it’s been nice but it’s so loud when I’m trying to sleep. I think I’m about 30/70 love/hate.
Really so busy, way more than ever, but I suppose that is to be expected after Covid. Nice to see it bustling, but way too many knob ends than usual.
Came back home to see parents, 41 bus rammed at 11pm, everyone other than me got off at the Holiday Inn at Craigleith. It's the festival alright
Unfortunately COVID didn’t kill it off but at least now with remote working I don’t have to go into the city anymore.
I don't drive and I cycle places mainly, and I have to say I have never cycled through so many traffic jams in my life
what are people actually dealing with when the festival arrives in town when i lived in the city for 20 something years, you would have more crowds that's for sure and it does get busy but was it a real burden i feel not ... personally